Monthly Archives: March 2016

WORCESTER, Mass, March 10, 2016 — Worcester-based Interscope, Inc. has received approval from the European Union to market its EndoRotor System, an endoscopic device that streamlines interventional gastrointestinal procedures used to manage colon and esophageal cancer. Additionally, the U.S. Patent Office has awarded Interscope five patents for its innovative medical device.

Interscope’s EndoRotor System is a single resection tool to remove mucosal lesions (i.e., polyps) and Barrett’s esophagus more effectively than existing products. According to the American Cancer Society, while a majority of mucosal disease is benign, patients with polyps and/or Barrett’s have an increased risk for cancer.

Interscope President and Co-Founder Jeffery Ryan explained, “Many young companies face business needs that are often not paired well with available resources. The partnership that MassMEP and Boston Engineering presented enabled a dream to take reality in a challenging and dynamic regulatory environment.”

The Interscope milestones are rooted in early support that it received from The Massachusetts Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MassMEP). As part of the national Manufacturing Extension Partnership program, MassMEP provides resources to help companies succeed with invention, innovation, and commercialization that supports economic growth in the Commonwealth. Interscope required early proof-of-concept support and product development expertise to help commercialize its concept.

MassMEP provided some early stage subsidies through its Federal partner, NIST MEP, and the Research Triangle Institute to support a Technology Scouting initiative. This support helped Interscope to shape the product specification prior to launching the development effort with its resource partner Boston Engineering.

John Killam, center director of MassMEP stated, “The successful commercial launch of the EndoRotor System is a testament to the strength of collaboration between public and private resources to create an ecosystem capable of providing optimal solutions for high-value projects such as Interscope.”

Interscope used this early-stage support to advance its business, which included selecting Boston Engineering to develop the product. Boston Engineering drove the product development and design for manufacturing (DFM) process including feasibility and analysis; industrial design; rapid prototyping; and product engineering. Additionally, Boston Engineering provided regulatory submission support and collaborated with the Interscope team to develop and implement its quality management system.

“MassMEP plays an important role in Massachusetts growth by supporting the commercialization of technologies that have the potential to change the way that people work and live,” said Mark Smithers, co-founder and chief technology officer (CTO) of Boston Engineering. “Interscope’s five patents to date reflect the company’s innovative approach to addressing clinical needs. We are proud to work closely with the Interscope team throughout the medical device product development and submission support process.”

Interscope was co-founded by two Massachusetts-based healthcare leaders. Company president and CEO Jeffrey Ryan Jr. previously held several senior sales and marketing positions in the medical devices industry. And for the past nine years, Interscope Chief Scientific Officer Ramon Franco, MD has been the Division Director for Laryngology at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary.

About Interscope, Inc.

Interscope, Inc. is the developer of the EndRotor System, a patented interventional resection device to address the challenges of sessile lesions and incomplete resection. Interscope is headquartered in Worcester, Mass. and is available online http://interscopemed.com/

About The Massachusetts Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MassMEP)

MassMEP is part of the national Manufacturing Extension Partnership program and a nonprofit organization that believes, given the proper support, manufacturers can challenge themselves and grow strategically, improve profitability, and create competitive advantages. MassMEP supports this belief by providing experiential learning and solution-based support services. Every engagement focuses on both the transfer of knowledge and the successful implementation of this learning for immediate impact on the company. MassMEP also serves as a valuable bridge to other organizations and programs that share a passion for developing technology and creating growth opportunities in a domestic manufacturing environment.

About Boston Engineering

Boston Engineering provides product design and engineering consulting across the entire product development process from concept through product launch. Certified for ISO 9001 and ISO 13485, our industry expertise includes consumer products, defense ; security, medical devices, robotics, and industrial &amp; commercial products. We are also the Northeast’s largest PTC software reseller. Boston Engineering is headquartered in Waltham, Mass. with an additional office at UMass Dartmouth’s Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship. Learn more at www.boston-engineering.com

BOSTON – House Speaker Robert DeLeo, D-Winthrop, on Wednesday announced the formation of Baystate Business Link, a new business mentoring program in Western Massachusetts.

DeLeo announced the new initiative — a partnership between the House and the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce — in a morning speech to the Chamber of Commerce.

“Baystate Business Link will concentrate on connecting businesses across the state, highlighting B2B (business-to-business) opportunities and encouraging mentorships,” DeLeo said, according to his prepared remarks.

A working group to advance the effort will include former Massachusetts Energy Secretary Rick Sullivan, who is now CEO of the Western Mass Economic Development Council; Scott Bailey, managing director of MassChallenge, an accelerator for start-ups; and Jack Healy from MassMEP, a group that assists Massachusetts manufacturers.

DeLeo said the group will “help weave together untapped potential in Massachusetts.”

DeLeo framed the new initiative as part of an effort by lawmakers to improve the economy outside of Greater Boston. “Let’s leverage our existing successes so that energetic entrepreneurs, promising students and small but worthy businesses outside of Boston are no longer overlooked,” DeLeo said.

Sullivan said the working group will develop a dialogue with Boston-businesses that are looking to grow. For example, businesses looking for a company to do manufacturing, run call centers, provide data functions or fill other parts of their supply chain could find businesses in Western Massachusetts to fulfill some of those roles.

“Our priority is to look to make links between the Boston business community, which is booming, and looking to make connections to western Massachusetts to be able to grow business opportunities for western Mass.,” Sullivan said. “At least give western Massachusetts a look and give us a seat at the business table to make the case as to why investment in western Mass. would be good.”

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